Method For The Catalytic Extraction Of Coal

1 . A method for the production of a carbon material from the extraction of coal, comprising forming a mixture of coal, a solvent and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tin, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, selenium, tellurium, polonium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, chromium, tungsten, copper, zinc, gold, silver, mercury, the catalytically-active compounds and coordination compounds containing any of the foregoing, and combinations and mixtures thereof.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon material comprises needle coke, sponge coke, mesophase pitch, binder pitch, impregnation pitch, carbon fibers, or combinations thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises one or more non-aromatic hydrocarbons, one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, or combinations thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extraction is effected at a temperature of at least about 325° C.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the extraction is effected at a temperature of about 325° C. to about 500° C.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extraction is effected under a pressure of up to about 5000 psi.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extraction is effected in an atmosphere of hydrogen or an inert gas.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of solvent to coal is about 1:1 to about 5:1.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of catalyst to coal is about 0.01:100 to about 5:100.

10 . A method of producing a graphite product having a selected coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising:

(a) producing a coal extract from the catalytic extraction of coal by forming a mixture of coal, a solvent and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tin, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, selenium, tellurium, polonium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, chromium, tungsten, copper, zinc, gold, silver, mercury, the catalytically-active compounds and coordination compounds containing any of the foregoing, and combinations and mixtures thereof;

(b) heating the coal extract under pressure to obtain raw coke;

(c) calcining the raw coke to create a coke having the selected coefficient of thermal expansion;

(d) milling the coke;

(e) mixing the milled coke with coal tar binder pitch to create a mix;

(f) extruding the mix to form a green stock;

(g) baking the green stock to create a baked stock; and

(h) graphitizing the baked stocked to create the graphite product with the selected coefficient of thermal expansion.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solvent of step (a) comprises one or more hydrocarbons.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the extraction of step (a) is effected at a temperature of at least about 325° C.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the extraction of step (a) is effected at a temperature of about 325° C. to about 500° C.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the extraction of step (a) is effected under a pressure of up to about 5000 psi.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the extraction of step (a) is effected in an atmosphere of hydrogen or an inert gas.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ratio of solvent to coal of step (a) is about 1:1 to about 5:1.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ratio of catalyst to coal of step (a) is about 0.01:1 to about 5:100.

18 . A method of creating a graphite article having a selected coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising:

(a) forming a mixture of coal, a solvent and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tin, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, selenium, tellurium, polonium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, chromium, tungsten, copper, zinc, gold, silver, mercury, the catalytically-active compounds and coordination compounds containing any of the foregoing, and combinations and mixtures thereof;

(b) extracting the mixture thereby forming a coal extraction; and

(c) heating the coal extract under pressure to obtain raw coke.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising calcining the raw coke to create a coke having the selected coefficient of thermal expansion.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising milling the coke.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising mixing the milled coke with coal tar binder pitch to create a mix.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising extruding the mix to form a green stock.

23 . The method of claim 22 baking the green stock to create a baked article; and graphitizing the baked article to create the article having a selected coefficient of thermal expansion.